Let Them Think That

3

Third PoV

Percy and Artemis were curled up on the couch-in a platonic manner, of course watching some movie about a monster capturing children and others trying to find and kill the monster. They were laughing at the incompetence of the children. Their use of mortal weaponry to combat some otherworldly being was simply ridiculous.

Artemis was nibbling on ambrosia under a pile of blankets, leaned against Percy's side.

Percy fell asleep at some point, an arm around Artemis as he drifted off.

The goddess noticed this but didn't seem to mind. She, too, eventually fell asleep in the arms of someone she was starting to look at as more of a lover than a friend.

Percy PoV

I awoke the next morning on the couch wrapped around Artemis, who was nuzzled against my chest.

She looked beautiful.

But she was my friend. I wasn't supposed to think of her like that.

My arm was rested on her waist as she slept. I knew I should pull it away and wake her up, but I didn't.

I pretended to sleep, inhaling her pine scent and relishing the calming effect her presence had on me.

Artemis PoV

When I woke up, I was in Percy's arms on the couch.

I tried not to think of his breath on my neck, or his ocean scent.

I tried very hard not to think of the dream I had last night. He was my friend, not my lover.

Percy murmured something incoherent and shifted.

I took in his chiselled face and his sharp jaw. Slowly, I leaned closer and pecked his cheek.

Quickly, I got up and went to the bathroom. When I emerged, Percy was making breakfast, wearing an apron that was supposed to say "Kiss the Cook".

It looked as though it had been crossed off with a marker, replaced with the word hug.

As I was following the edited instructions of the apron, Athena appeared.

"Artemis! I've been looking all over for you!" My sister exclaimed.

"Why didn't you just Iris-Message me?" I asked.

"It was blocked," she replied. "What are you doing with Jackson?"

"Hugging him," I replied. Percy waved. "Would you like breakfast?"

"No," Athena replied sharply. "Are you sleeping together?"

I pulled away immediately. "No. Of course not. We're just friends. We've, uh, been pretending to date to ward off suitors as we both have that issue."

"And interacting like this in private is 'pretending'?" My sister questioned.

"Nope," Percy answered. "We're friends, and it just so happens that we're of the opposite sex."

Athena left, presumably to whine to father.

Percy hugged me again. "Feeling better?"

"A little. Not much," I replied.

Percy PoV

"The movie theatre on Ambrosia Lane is finished renovating. Wanna go check it out?" I asked.

"Depends on what movie we go see. If we go see some documentary,y, they'll think we were forced to go or something, and if we go see some romance movie, everyone will think we're some weird couple. There are so many factors," Artemis explained. "Let them think that," I told her. "As long as we're there together, nobody's going to bother either of us."

"I like that idea," Artemis commented.

Artemis PoV

Thankfully, my period had ended, so I was able to summon my own clothing.

Percy's hoodies were comfy, though, so I still snagged one.

We made our way to the theatre and got in line for tickets.

There was an interesting movie of the sci-fi and comedy genres playing, so we got tickets for that.

At the snack bar, we got the date night packet, with drinks, a gigantic bucket of popcorn, and candy.

Even as the movie started, we were some of the only people there.

A couple of minutes in, Percy raised the armrest between our seats and put an arm around me, pulling me closer to him. Somehow, this made my heart beat faster.

Percy PoV

The movie was interesting. There were explosions, sharks, plot twists, aliens, and lots of dark humour throughout.

When the movie ended, we dumped our trash and Artemis wanted to go on a walk.

As we strolled down Nectar Street, several gods leered at her.

I glared at each and every one of them, taking the goddess's hand in mine.

My goddess laced her fingers with mine, smiling when I squeezed her hand.

Turning onto Greece Court, I found myself under the harsh gaze of Apollo.

Artemis sighed and removed herself from my side. "To my palace for this discussion. It'll be a long one."

We all appeared in the foyer of my
goddess's palace, quickly led to the equivalent of her living room, where we all sat down.

"Before you say anything or jump to conclusions, let me say what I have to say," she began.

I paid no attention to the looks Apollo was giving me. My mind was on how Artemis was still holding my hand in private, and how she hadn't let go of it since the end of the movie.

"Apollo, are you aware of all the men that have been courting me?" My goddess asked.

Apollo nodded gruffly.

"Percy's been having the same issues. We decided that we would pretend to date so that the suitors would stop," Artemis explained.

"Yeah," I pitched in. "Annabeth hasn't bugged me once since I told her I was dating Artemis."

"Then why are you still holding hands?" Apollo asked.

"The window," Artemis replied. "There's probably someone watching."

The sun god shot me a venomous glare. "Regardless, you hurt her, you die."

I nodded.

Not like it would matter, anyway. My goddess, scratch that, the goddess, didn't reciprocate my feelings. I was foolish to entertain the thought that she had also gained romantic feelings. I sighed.

Maybe Annabeth was right about how she was the one for me. I should probably give her a call.

Artemis PoV

My brother's interrogation had me
questioning my feelings.

I thought, and thought, and thought until I came to my senses.

Those outings that were supposed to be dates, those glares he shot my suitors, those times he held my hand and gave me hugs, they were all genuine.

He liked me.

I sucked in a breath, the realization hitting me. My actions were genuine as well.

I had fallen for a male.

Biting my lip, I slowly walked toward Percy's room to tell him how I felt.

Pushing the door open, I found myself watching the man whom I had discovered my feelings for confiding in his former lover.

I choked on a sob and disappeared to the bed chambers of my palace.